As the calendar shifts to 2022, the final crop of ponies from the legendary racehorse and Tiznow male will become birds of prey. Early turning 25, Tiznow has selected over 80 black category winners including 14 Class I/Group 1 winners after nearly two decades as a foundation stallion at WinStar Ranch.
This year, the successful male has enjoyed his first full year of retirement. WinStar Stallion Director Larry McGinnis said that Tiznow still has the same habits as other stallions in the stall.
McGinnis admits: “He got a little extra time because he was the teacher’s favorite. “If one day he wants to be out on his lawn, we feed him outside. I think he developed a bit of courage as he got older. He tries to intimidate the young men as they pass by. He does what he wants, when he wants, and will be for the rest of his life.”
Such a lifestyle is nothing new for Tiznow, who has been very well noted on the track for doing almost everything to his liking. That attitude never wavered throughout the beautiful girl’s career at school, says McGinnis.
“Tiznow is the smartest horse I have ever raised. When we first got him, I noticed it. He looks a lot and nothing scares him. We were taking him on a trip once and a girl was stung by a bee right next to him. She screams bloody murder and he just stands there. He has never shown that he is afraid of anything.”
Tiznow and McGinnis developed a special bond as they shared the past two decades together at WinStar. Prior to Tiznow’s arrival, McGinnis was the assistant manager at Prestonwood Ranch when the property turned into WinStar Ranch.
“They told me we had a stallion coming in and asked if I wanted to be a stallkeeper,” he explains. “I didn’t realize that the horse that was coming was Tiznow.”
Tiznow wasn’t able to become a successful Kentucky stallion when he first arrived at WinStar, but the grit and determination of Cee’s Tizzy’s Californian son that showed in his illustrious career on the track was soon seen. reflected in his descendants.
He was the top freshman stallion in his crop after the 2005 production GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Folklore award and 2009 Well Armed World Cup winner GI Dubai. His success continued throughout his career with the likes of GI hero Travers S. 2008, Colonel John, GI winner Belmont S. Traveler.
Tiznow prepares for Breeders ‘Cup Classic 2001 | Horsephotos
“Traveler McGinnis explained. “Nothing hurt him at all. I rarely see one of Tiznow’s children who doesn’t have the composure and know how to handle things without being excited about it.”
Traveler and Tizdejavu of Crestwood Farms are Tiznow’s only children standing in Kentucky today, with several others studying in regional markets. If his top performer this year in the GSW Midnight Bourbon one day comes in a stallion show, the pony could be Tiznow’s last son to begin his school career.
And yet, Tiznow still has a few of its last crops waiting to show their worth on the track. Fittingly, his final crop to arrive this year comes 20 years after the forgettable day at Belmont Park when Tiznow won his second consecutive GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Owned by Cees Racing Stable and campaigned to win the 3-year-old and Horse of the Year championship in 2000 by coach Jay Robbins, Tiznow returned to Breeders’ Cup in 2001 to defend his Classic title. with only one win on the resume. a 4 year old child.
Even his regular racer, Walk of Fame driver Chris McCarron, couldn’t be sure of Tiznow’s true abilities as they approached the starting gate.
“There’s always some question in your mind about whether he peaked at the age of three,” McCarron said. “But the way he trains, I know there is more to it than that. It was just a question of which party Tiznow was going to. Luckily, he rose to the occasion on the most important day of his life at the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Defeated as a 7-1 gamble after a top pick at purebred Aptitude Juddmonte as well as European invaders Galileo (Ire) and Sakhee, Tiznow remained in third place for most of the trip. walked until McCarron looked out of the corner of his eye to see Sakhee arrive outside of them. The pair fought with their necks and necks down in tension and as the leash drew closer together, Sakhee leaned forward.
McCarron explained: “I was thinking in my head that I wasn’t going to hit him with a stick. “I want to let him be the boss. When Sakhee wrapped it around my neck, I thought, ‘Wow, I’ve got nothing to lose. I can also see if he responds with just a light tap. ‘ So I touched him once with my left hand and I felt him speed up. He went on and passed Sakhee right in the shadow of the rope.”
The cheers of the crowd increased when race caller Tom Durkin announced a verse that would forever go down in the history books of the race, declaring that Tiznow had won it for America.
Tiznow beats rival Sakhee as he crosses the rope first in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2001 | Horsephotos
“I really don’t know if it was said in my note earlier that Tiznow would win for the US,” reflected Durkin. “I don’t know, but it was somewhere in my subconscious. Some people think it’s a bit of a joke to say, but that’s the story. Tiznow is carrying an American banner and he’s trying to beat a foreign horse, so that’s a big story there. “
The 2001 Breeders’ Cup was the first international sporting event after the September 11 terrorist attacks six weeks earlier. SWAT teams lined up on rooftops and security checks were carried out for a very unusual day at Belmont Park.
“When Tom Durkin shouted that Tiznow was going to win for America, it was a really happy day,” recalls McCarron. “With the devastation and tragedy of 9/11, people are really yearning for something that can make them happy. So it happened that the Yankees won the World Series that year and then when Tiznow won for the US team, it was like the icing on the cake. “
Tiznow retired after winning the first and only Breeders’ Cup Classics horse title, leaving cherished memories in the hearts of racing fans and those who knew him best. .
Today, McCarron looks back fondly on the days of Tiznow in training when the stubborn and micro-sized pony protested being led into a stall and having to turn and back, as well as the offensive display His most memorable was in the final practice session on the eve of the 2001 Breeders’ Cup when he refused to move forward on the track, standing sternly for 35 minutes before finally moving forward and completing a piece. brilliant miles long.
“He has a very strong will and doesn’t do anything unless he’s willing to do it,” McCarron said. “He was weird, but what I learned from him was huge. He taught me a lot about the relationship between people and horses. Once I found out, I tried to figure out what made him tick and just let him be the boss. That’s what he wanted, so I just followed his lead and fortunately we had a lot of success together.”
Today, with both Tiznow and his driver enjoying a comfortable retirement in Kentucky Bluegrass, it’s not uncommon for McCarron to stop at WinStar. Along with greetings from an old friend, Tiznow remains the most popular on the tour at WinStar and of course, he is happily looked after by McGinnis and the rest of the WinStar steed team.
“He was like a rock,” said McGinnis, reflecting on his two decades with the stallion. “He helped my career a lot like Distorted Humor and Sightstown did. If it weren’t for them, I would be just an ordinary Joe. Tiznow is a good, useful, California-bred stallion and really, if you think about it, shouldn’t have been a stallion, but he has made his own once he has won two Breeders’ Cups. Classics. I’m not sure if anyone will do it again. “
